Arlington County Sets Aside $50,000 to Aid Families After ICE Detentions

The Arlington County Board voted 4-0 on Sept. 2 to appropriate $50,000 for a new assistance program aimed at families who have lost their primary wage earner to detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The funds will be distributed through Arlington Thrive, a nonprofit that describes itself as a key part of the county’s social safety net and works in partnership with the local government. Eligible families can receive up to $2,000 each, with the program expected to reach between 25 and 30 households, according to the board’s meeting agenda.

Money will go out in the form of debit cards and checks. Elizabeth Matlock, a staff member in the county manager’s office who is coordinating the program, said Arlington Thrive is prepared to move quickly.

“Thrive is eager to get started with this project,” Matlock said.

Board Chair Matt de Ferranti framed the vote as a statement of support for immigrant residents.

“We stand with our immigrant families, and we will not stop doing so,” de Ferranti said. “We are valuing the families of those that have been displaced and removed.”

Board Vice Chair Maureen Coffey said the emergency funding fills a gap for families facing sudden loss of income.

“Ensuring that we take care of our community and our residents and our people does mean making sure that we have emergency assistance available for what is probably one of the most challenging situations that you could possibly face,” Coffey said. “I’m very proud of us for doing this.”

Backdrop of intensified enforcement

The board’s action follows a period of stepped-up federal immigration enforcement in the Washington, D.C., area. Last month, ICE officers made more than 1,300 arrests of illegal immigrants over a 14-day span in the D.C. suburbs.

Of those arrested, nearly 400 had criminal convictions or pending charges, including a Salvadoran national wanted in Richmond on a murder warrant. Other alleged offenses among those detained included rape, sexual assault, kidnapping, DUI, robbery and attempted murder.